South Africa Returns Seized $15m To Nigerian Govt

The government of South Africa has reportedly returned $15 million to the Nigerian government.

The South African border authorities had on September 5, 2014, seized $9.3 million meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military, from two Nigerians and an Israeli who arrived the country in a private jet.

CustomS officers discovered the money stashed in three suitcases after the suitcases were put through airport scanners.

The money was concealed in two black plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing US$100,000 in notes.

The NPA said it found with the suspects, an invoice for a helicopter and armaments meant for Nigeria.

While the furore created by the cash seizure was yet to settle, South African authorities again seized another $5.7 million transferred by Societe D’Equipments Internationale of Nigeria, to South African arms company, Cerberus Risk Solutions, for the procurement of arms.

Although the Nigerian government through the office of the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, admitted that the money belonged to the Nigerian government, the South African government said it would not release the funds until after “due process” was followed.

The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, had said although his country had no intention of keeping the seized funds, it would only release it to Nigeria after due process had been followed.

On Friday, PR Nigeria, the consulting firm issuing statements on behalf of Nigerian security agencies said that the money has finally been released.

It said the money was released as a result of some legal and diplomatic processes initiated by the former NSA which “ensured that cash seized by the South African government during the cash for arms saga last year have been fully recovered by Nigeria”.